A San Francisco porn company has been required to pay a fine of approximately $78,000 due to a condom policy violation, Mercury News reports.
Michael Stabile, spokesperson of Kink.com says many performers prefer not to use condoms and the fine is part of a long-running campaign by those who oppose the porn industry. Their parent company, called Cybernet Entertainment, was charged for negligent prophlactic policy as a contributor to dangerous working conditions. Their website is most popular for niche films portraying scenes of dominance and submission and was also linked to two HIV positive porn performers last year.
"The fines are excessive and we believe, politically motivated," said Cybernet founder Peter Acworth. "The complaints which prompted the inspection were not made by actual employees, but by outside groups with a long history of opposition to adult film," he added. Last September, California lawmakers voted down a bill that would have required that porn actors use condoms. Records from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CALOSHA) indicate numerous citations from August against the porn producer which includes an optional policy on the use of condoms.
"We're all for sensible regulation that protects performers but this essentially amount to a moral crusade. It's a solution in search of a problem," said Stabile. They stressed that the performers contacted HIV off set but their non-requirement to wear protection while on set puts the entire cast at risk of infection. Derek Hay, owner of adult talent agency called LA Direct Models estimates that 20 percent of the industry will move to Las Vegas by the end of the year, according to FOX News.
